D&D (2024) D&D Pre-orders; this is sad

[mamba]

But there is a significant element you keep ignoring here.

Computer games were ALWAYS digital.

I am not ignoring it, that is why it is taking a while, they first have to get enough people to play online for this to be feasible.

The VTT is an important piece in this puzzle, they are spending tens of millions on it. How much do you think the 2024 revision cost them to make? The VTT costs them easily 10 times as much. Look what they spend money on and you know where they are going

 

[Hussar]

it is taking a while

A while?

I've had an e-reader for twenty years now. And, in those 20 years, print has not gone away. Additionally, I've been playing on VTT and, for most of that time, VTT was largely ignored.

Do you have any idea how much they're laying out for the revision books? We're looking at several YEARS of playtests and marketing. Huge outlays. There is no way that the VTT is costing ten times that. What's the marketing budget for the new VTT? Oh, right, zero. Because they've barely talked about it, other than a couple of glimpses.

I mean, sure we can probably predict that digital will eventually take over print. It's kinda like all those other predictions like RPG's are dying, science fiction is dying and whatnot. I suppose in a long enough time frame you might be correct.

Don't you get tired of being wrong? How long has this sort of thing been predicted? We've seen these prediction since about the release of 3e. So, it's been twenty plus years so far and you're still wrong.

 

[mamba]

A while?

yes

I've had an e-reader for twenty years now. And, in those 20 years, print has not gone away.

I would not extrapolate from that to D&D

Additionally, I've been playing on VTT and, for most of that time, VTT was largely ignored.

do you think it still is?

Do you have any idea how much they're laying out for the revision books?

I can make an educated guess…

We're looking at several YEARS of playtests and marketing. Huge outlays. There is no way that the VTT is costing ten times that.

how many people have they working on the VTT again? 350 to 400? How many worked on the 2024 books day-in and day-out for over a year?

The VTT is costing them 10 times that…

What's the marketing budget for the new VTT? Oh, right, zero.

has it been released? Too early to market it

Don't you get tired of being wrong?

no, also, I reject the premise Let’s talk again in 10 years and see where things are at in the de-emphasize books plan, much farther along than today I’d guess

How long has this sort of thing been predicted? We've seen these prediction since about the release of 3e.

not from me, so I am not only not tired of being wrong, I have not been wrong yet

 

[UngeheuerLich]

no, also, I reject the premise Let’s talk again in 10 years and see where things are at in the de-emphasize books plan, much farther along than today I’d guess

De-emphasizing? Probably. Why? Because adults then are digital natives.
Still doing books? Yes, because we still live and are some sort of drivers (probably).

not from me, so I am not only not tired of being wrong, I have not been wrong yet

You need to name a date, where there are no books anymore. Otherwise you could always say that the plan is still ongoing.

 

[Hussar]

how many people have they working on the VTT again? 350 to 400? How many worked on the 2024 books day-in and day-out for over a year?

I highly, highly doubt they actually have anywhere near those numbers working in a VTT. Not even close.

 

[Hussar]

not from me, so I am not only not tired of being wrong, I have not been wrong yet

You can keep parroting the same predictions that others have been stating for twenty years and then claiming that you haven't been wrong yet, but, you aren't really fooling anyone.

 

[TiQuinn]

Kinda seems like this arguing about costs and marketing over the VTT versus the books is pointless without actual numbers.

 

[Parmandur]

Not sure why we're debating whether WotC will stop printing physical books. During the OGL fiasco, didn't Cao come right out and say they plan for books to be "treasured collectibles" in future? That suggests that they will continue to print physical books but likely in extremely reduced numbers (and they'll quite possibly raise the prices as well).

I can't seem to track down the primary source for that statement, but it was widely quoted in fan discussions of the debacle. Is that statement in doubt, or do people think it will be walked back in the wake of the backlash?

Actually quite the opposite: Kyle Brink detailed how print wasn't going anywhere.

 

[Parmandur]

I highly, highly doubt they actually have anywhere near those numbers working in a VTT. Not even close.

He ia wrong about print going away, bit he ia right that rhe VTT does have a huge workforce that has been working on it. WotC won't abandon print, but they aren't dabbling on the VTT, it is getting major resources.

But they are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Oofta]

Kinda seems like this arguing about costs and marketing over the VTT versus the books is pointless without actual numbers.

Same as arguing that digital is more profitable than books. We simply don't know.